Still searching for the spark ...

Friday, January 22, 2010

When I visited my email, I found so many emails from SparkPeople... I figured something was up. Then I found that I was Motivator of the Day! All those great comments and thumbs up! Wow! I found myself being motivated by you. Thanks!

An update of my search for the Spark. Due to cold, ice, and injuries, I have made the decision to join a fitness club for a couple of months. I tried it out this week and am not crazy about the extra travel time and commitment, but have found that I feel much, much better. Much less pain in my joints. So for these winter months anyway, I am going to try some spinning and yoga as well as the treadmill and elliptical. I hope to still get on my bike outdoors this winter, but when it is less icy and 20 degrees or warmer (seems we're not getting much of that...).

Eating. Still working on it. I am reading The Spark (very slowly, I might add). I read until something "sparks" with me. Then I think about that for a few days. Yesterday's reading was about visualizing. It dawned on my that I think about going home and eating before bed. I think about how nice it will be, how good the food will taste, how I will feel while eating (somehow I don't bother thinking about how I will feel the next day). Visualizing. Hmmmm.... I didn't even know I was doing it.

So yesterday, I visualized having a cup of chai tea with soy milk at bedtime. How nice it will be. Sweet, warm. How I am treating myself nicely. Did it work? Yes and no... I enjoyed the tea but still had some food, but it was less food and healthier food. So I would say it is a success. I am going to keep working with this.

I like that you're not just visualizing what you would like, but the steps that will help you get to where you want to be. Visualization really works. I've tried it a few times with things I didn't want to do or enjoy doing. Sometimes it took several days of imagining myself doing it and enjoying doing it instead of pushing it away when I thought about it. All of a sudden I would find myself doing it. Why is it so difficult to take the time to do the things that will help me achieve my goals? I need to visualize myself enjoying visualizing, LOL!

Good for you Owl! I'm in a Spark doldrums a bit. My visualization of late has been Peppermint ice cream - shouldn't have written that....Sigh...Okay - off for a walk now. Sun is shining, temps in the 40's. They're saying a real snow event for us in NC on Saturday, so I'd best take advantage of the heat wave while I can.

I've been reading the Spark too. It is funny because I never thought to stop and think of all the things I was visualizing that weren't going in the direction of my goals (like that chocolate bar, sitting on the coach watching a show, etc). I'll need to learn to turn those around. It is good that you mentioned that so thank you!

Actually, I have been working on putting together a motivational poster for myself - you know the one we were supposed to put together when we first started online at SP (and get like 25 points or something like that when it is completed). I'm finding some good images and words - I'll hang it up in my bathroom so I see it every morning and evening.

I'm glad you found a fitness club to join this winter. I often would worry about you thinking you were out there in all that snow/ice either walking or biking. Hope your knee is doing well.

I am glad that you are getting your spark back. I recently lost my spark too, and it has taken me a few weeks to get it back. But I think am back on track, and it feels better. Best of luck on you spark, and congrats on being a motivator.